Shoe heel



Jan. 19, 1932. P. T. GABRl EL Filed June 27, 1950 I INV ENT Pasquale Z'dabrz'el BY A; Eon-mg Patented Jan; 19, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PASQUALE r. GABRIEL, or naooxmm, NEW YORK, assrenoa 'ro nommox LA VALLE, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

SHOE HEEL Application filed June 27, 1980. Serial No. 464,161.

My present invention relates generally to shoe heels, and constitutes a continuation in part of my pending application, filed December 6, 1928, Serial N 0. 324,105.

It is a general object of my invention to provide an improved heel of the character used primarily in ladies shoes, whereby the heel and the shoe as a whole are substantially strengthened, and whereby the possibility of v 1 separation of the heel from the shoe is greatly minimized. v

My invention has particular reference to heels of the Cuban type, which embody a front face or heel breast which is substantially vertical. Heels of this character have alwa 5 had a tendenc to break from the shoe body, and this ten ency has always been greatest in heels of greater height. In accordance with my present invention, I minimize this tendency ofthe heel to separate from its heel seat, and as a result, the entire structure is greatly strengthened and I am enabled to provide heels of any or contour.

Although I have herein illustrated and shall hereinafter describe my invention as appliedto heels of the wooden type, nevertheless it will be understood that as to certain phases of my invention it is not restricted to this type of heel and may be found to have usefulness in connection with heels in general, regardless of the material of which they are made.

In my copending application, above referred the general nature of my invention, one feature of which lies in providing the top sur- 'face of the heel with a forward extension which project beyond and overhangs the L0 heel breast, the extension being of a width transversely of the heel less than that of the upper end of the heel breast. While, in the embodiment illustrated in said copending application, I have shown the extension 5 formed integrally with the heel, I have found that in practice greater economy and greater strength may be achieved by constructing this extension in the form of a separate element of material different from that of the 9 heel, and, more particularly, of a rigid and.

desired height to, I have illustrated and described h unyielding material such as metal. This separate construction of the extension was referred to by me in the specification of my said copending application.

Other objects of my present invention lie in imparting to the extension a particular configuration which will be herein more fully described and which results in certain advantages in connection with the general purposes for which the invention is intended. For the attainment of the foregoing objects and such other objects as may hereinafter appear or be pointed out, I have illustrated one form of my present invention in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a side elevational View of a shoe of the character to which my invention has particular reference;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the heel structure shown by itself;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4. of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view, similar to Figure 3, and showing the manner in which I prefer to associate my heel structure with a shoe of the character shown in Figure 1; and

Figure 6 is a fra entary cross-sectional View taken substant1ally along the line 6-6 of Figure 5.

In Figure 1, I have illustrated a ladys shoe aving a body portion 10 and a heel 11 of the Cuban type. It is to be noted that the heel has a forward face or heel breast 12 which is substantially vertical and straight.

Where the heel structure comprises a body portion made entirely of wood, "the wooden block or element is first shaped in the manner shown in Figure 2. More particularly, it is to be noted that the heel breast 12 is slightly concaved when viewed in horizontal cross-section, and that the top surface 13 of the heel is also concaved by a slight degree.' The top surface is thus shaped for the purpose of enabling the heel to be suitably applied, by cement or other customary means, to the heel seat of the shoe body 10.

held in of the ed In accordance with my present invention, 1 provide the upper surface 13 with a countersunk and which extends rearwardly, from the midportion of the upper edge 15 of the heel breast 12. The width of the recess or channel 14 is substantially less than the width ge 15, and the recess extends rearwardly for about half the distance from front to rear of the top surface 13.

Into the recess 14 I insert the rear end of a tongue or extension 16 which, in accordance with my present invention, is made of rigid and strong metal, such as steel. This tongue is relatively long and thin, and in transverse cross-section it has a slightly crescent shape, as shown most clearly in Figure 4. More particularly, the upper surface 11 (see Figure 4) is slightly concave, and the lower surface 18 (Figure 4) is curved in the same direction but with greater curvature.

The curvature 18 is substantially like the transverse curvature of the recess 14 so that the strip or tongue 16 will fit snugly into the recess; and the curvature 17 is substantially equal to the transverse curvature of the upper surface 13 of the heel. As a result, when the tongue the recess 14 it is virtually embedded within the heel body, and the top surface 17 thereof aligns with, and forms a continuation of, the concavity of the upper surface 13. The upper surface 17 of the tongue 16 ma thus be said to lie fiushwith the upper sur ace 13 of the heel body.

The rear portion of the tongue 16 may be osition by an suitable means, and I have lllustratively s own a pair of nails or rivets 19 which are driven downwardly into the body of the heel 11. The embedded portion of the tongue 16 is of such a length as to secure the same firmly and permanently to the heel body, and the projecting portion of the tongue 16 is made of any desired length commensurate with requirements and the necessary rigidity of the entire structure. The approximate proportions of the parts, so far as size and arrangement are concerned, are shown most clearly in Figures 2 and 3.

The heel structure being thus assembled, it will be understood that the body of the heel may be covered over with a leather coating or the like, and that a leather lift or layer may, if desired, be applied to the bottom of the heel in accordance with customary practice. I have not illustrated these particular steps of manufacture, because they have no direct bearing upon my present invention.

In applying the heel structure to a shoe, I prefer to proceed in a manner illustrated 111 a general way in Figures 5 and 6. The sole 26 is split at the rear portion thereof to provide an outer flap 21. During the trimming of the heel seat to bevel the edges thereof, this flap is held out of the way, and it is not recess 14 which is relatively shallow 16 is positioned snugl withinuntil after the heel 11 has been applied to the heel seat that the flap 21 is made use of. The heel having been applied by cement, or in other ways customary in the industry, the flap 21 is drawn taut over the extension 16 and over the front face or heel breast 12 of the heel 11. It is secured in this position by means of cement or the like, and is suitably trimmed so that its edges conform to the edges of the heel breast 12.

he advantages of the crescent shape of the extension 16 will now be more fully appreciated. Upon reference to Figure 6, it will be noted that the upper concave surfaee 17 of the extension conforms snugly to the convexity of the inner portion of the sole 20. The convexity of the outer or under-surface 18 of the extension causes the latter to lie snugly between the inner portion of the sole 20 and the outer flap 21 previously referred to. From one aspect, the extension 16 may thus be said to be snugly retained within a pocket, as shown most clearly in Figure 6.

The finished shoe has an external appearance which is not in the least marred or affected by the composite heel structure of my invention. The Width of the tongue being less than the width of the upper edge of the heel breast, it isentirely concealed. At the same time, it is nevertheless a fact that the completed shoe is of greater rigidity, a portion of the weight of the wearer being carried by the cantilever tongue 16. It will also be obvious that the likelihood of separation ;of the heel from the shoe body is greatly minimized.

From the foregoing, it will be understood that m invention is not restricted to wooden heels, ut may be employed in conjunction with all-leather heels; and, in general, with structures, regardless of material, of the general character illustrated herein and in my co-pending application.

With my present construction, wherein the tongue is made of a separate piece, I am enabled to construct the tongue of a material having the requisite rigidity and strength, regardless of the material of which the heel body is made. As distinguished from my earlier application, for example, I am. enabled to provide a heel body of wood, leather,

or any other material, and to provide the tongue of staunch metal w'hose strength is lndependent of the strength or nature of the material of which the heel is made. As distinguished from an integral tongue, my present construction permits me to make the overhang or cantilever narrower, thinner, and longer than would otherwise be feasible.

It will be obvious that changes in the details herein described and illustrated for the purpose of explaining the nature of my inveution may be made by those skilled, in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the ap- 1 V secured to the body of the 'sole and to pended claims. It is therefore intended that these details be interpreted as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A Cuban heel for a high-heeled ladys shoe comprising a body portion shaped to provide a concaved top surface and having a substantially straight heel breast, said body portion having a shallow, relatively narrow recess extending rearwardly from the midportion of the upper edge of said heel breast, and a relatively rigid and staunch tongue of different material from that. of the body portion, said tongue being of "substantially uniform width and cross-section and having its rear portion embedded within said recess so that its forward portion projects forwardly to overhang the heel breast; and said tongue having a top surface which lies flush with the top surface of the body portion.

2. A Cuban heel for a high-heeled ladys i shoe comprising a wooden body portion shaped to provide a concave top surface and a substantially straight heel breast, said top surface having a shallow recess extending rearwardly from the mid-portion of the upper edge of the heel breast, said recess having a width substantially less than the width of said upper edge, and a metallic tongue of substantially uniform width and cross-section and having its rear portion embedded within said recess and its forward portion projecting forwardly to overhang the heel breast, said tongue being relatively thin and having its top surface flush with the top surface of the body portion; whereby said overhang will inconspicuously reinforce the heel and the entire shoe with which such heel is associated.

3. In a high-heeled ladys shoe having a Cuban heel, an upper, a sole attached to the upper and split at the rear portion thereof to provide a flap, the heel having a rigid metallic strip embedded in the top surface of the heel and of substantially uniform width and cross-section and projecting forwardly from said top surface to overhang the heel breast, the strip being substantially less in width transversely of the heel than the upper end of the heel breast, and said flap being the heel breast, where y said strip is completely concealed.

I11 witness whereof I have signed this specification this 18 day of June, 1930.

PASQUALE T. GABRIEL. 

